Great question and the most important. The team at Boreas prides itself on providing the best customer service in the industry. We work closely with our clients, no matter how big or small, to ensure that their entire  experience, from the first phone call or email to final delivered product, is exceptional in every way. Whether handling a one-time order, or having a standing, ongoing order, we treat every customer with the utmost respect and ensure that the process is handled professionally. Conveniently located in the heart of the Midwest, our state-of-the-art facility can handle all your freeze-drying, milling and encapsulation needs. We look forward to hearing from you!

Freeze-drying, or lyophilization, is a process used to preserve perishable materials or make them more convenient for transport. This process involves three main stages:

1. Freezing: The material is frozen, turning its water content into ice. This is typically done quickly to form small ice crystals, which helps maintain the structure of the material.
2. Primary Drying (Sublimation): Under a vacuum, the frozen water (ice) is directly converted from solid to gas (sublimation) without passing through the liquid phase. This requires low temperatures and pressure, and the process removes about 95% of the water.
3. Secondary Drying (Desorption): Any remaining water molecules, which are bound to the material, are removed by gradually raising the temperature under continued vacuum. This step ensures that the final product has extremely low residual moisture content.

Freeze-drying is commonly used in the pharmaceutical industry, food preservation (e.g., instant coffee, fruits, and meals for astronauts), and for preserving biological samples. It maintains the material's structural integrity and nutritional content, allowing it to be rehydrated later with minimal loss of quality.

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Freeze drying and conventional dehydrating both serve to preserve food and other materials by removing moisture, but they do so in different ways and offer distinct benefits. Here are the key advantages of freeze drying over traditional dehydration:

1. Retention of Nutritional Value:
   1. Freeze Drying: Better preserves the nutritional content, vitamins, and minerals because it uses low temperatures and avoids the thermal degradation associated with conventional dehydration.
   2. Dehydrating: Often involves higher temperatures, which can destroy sensitive nutrients
2. Flavor and Aroma:
   1. Freeze Drying: Maintains the original flavor and aroma of the product more effectively since it preserves volatile compounds that can be lost with heat.
   2. Dehydrating: Can lead to significant loss of flavor and aroma due to the higher temperatures involved.
3. Texture and Appearance:
   1. Freeze Drying: Retains the original structure, color, and texture of the food, resulting in a product that rehydrates more closely to its fresh state.
   2. Dehydrating: Often results in shrunken, tough, or leathery textures and can cause discoloration.
4. Shelf Life:
   1. Freeze Drying: Produces a product with an extremely low moisture content, which extends shelf life significantly and makes it less prone to microbial growth and spoilage.
   2. Dehydrating: While it also extends shelf life, the higher residual moisture content can lead to a shorter shelf life compared to freeze-dried products.
5. Rehydration:
   1. Freeze Drying: Rehydrates more quickly and effectively, often returning to a state remarkably similar to the fresh product.
   2. Dehydrating: Rehydration is generally slower, and the end product may not return to a state as close to the original.
6. Storage and Portability:
   1. Freeze Drying: Results in lightweight, easy-to-store products that maintain quality over extended periods.
   2. Dehydrating: Also produces lighter products than fresh food but not as light or shelf stable as freeze-dried items.
7. Applications:
   1. Freeze Drying: Suitable for a wider range of products, including pharmaceuticals, delicate foods, and biological materials that require precise preservation.
   2. Dehydrating: Primarily used for food preservation but less effective for delicate or heat-sensitive items.

Overall, while traditional dehydration is more accessible and less costly, freeze drying offers superior preservation of quality, nutrition, and longevity, making it ideal for high-value and sensitive products.

Getting started with our freeze-drying services is simple and straightforward. Here is how you can begin:

1. Contact Us with Your Specific Requirements:
   1. Reach out to us via phone, email, or through our contact form on the website. Provide us with detailed information about your project, including the type of product you wish to freeze-dry, the quantity, and any specific requirements or goals you have in mind. This initial communication helps us understand your needs and determine how we can best assist you.
2. Send Us Samples of Your Product for Testing and Evaluation:
   1. Once we understand your requirements, we will ask you to send us samples of your product. Our team of experts will conduct thorough testing and evaluation to determine the optimal freeze-drying process for your specific product. This step ensures that we can achieve the highest quality results and meet your expectations.
3. Schedule Tolling Space on Our Freeze-Dryers or Our Food Processing Equipment:
   1. After successful testing and evaluation, we will work with you to schedule production time on our state-of-the-art freeze-dryers or food processing equipment. We offer flexible scheduling options to accommodate your production timeline and ensure a smooth and efficient process. Our facilities are equipped to handle both small-batch and large-scale projects, providing you with the scalability you need.

Throughout the entire process, our team is committed to providing exceptional service and support. We will keep you informed at every stage and work closely with you to ensure that your project is completed to the highest standards.

Boreas is the Greek god of the north wind and winter. This association with cold and freezing naturally aligns with the process of freeze-drying, which involves freezing the product. Boreas symbolizes cold, strength, and preservation. Freeze-drying aims to preserve products effectively, enhancing their shelf life and maintaining their quality, much like the enduring and powerful nature of Boreas.